Monday, October 31, 2011

La Marinière [The French sailor shirt]

This week, we resume our series on French icons with la Marinière, known the world over as "the French sailor shirt," or "the Breton shirt," (named after Brittany, the rugged coastal region in Western France.)

Every spring and summer, the striped navy and white shirt returns on runways and in the street. French women refer to it as "un basique" - a basic but essential piece in their wardrobe. A timeless classic, versatile and adaptable, la Marinière looks good on almost everyone.

Gratuitous dog shot-- because I love dogs!

Another dog shot -- because I can!

Some claim la Marinière - and by extension, everything striped and nautical - have been overdone in recent years. Are we headed for a Breton stripe overdose?

No matter. I own at least six or seven Marinières in different colors and styles. Most have come from France, but it would have been easy finding them here. American prêt-à-porter collections typically include at least one or two models of French sailor shirts in the spring and summer.

When la marinière is mentioned, people usually credit Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel for being the first designer to showcase the Breton shirt, and they are correct. In 1913, the budding designer opened a boutique in Deauville, the fashionable seaside resort town in Normandy. While exploring the region's expansive beaches and quaint fishing towns, she became enamored with the simple elegance and comfort of the jersey striped shirts worn by local sailors and fishermen. The Breton shirt fit the bill of what would become Chanel's trademark: a very unique blend of feminine, yet comfortable clothes often inspired by men's wardrobes. One can imagine what this new-found freedom meant to women at the turn of the 20th century: Most were still constrained in stiff corsets, intricate dresses and ornate hats, a legacy of "la Belle Epoque" fashion trends.

"Belle Epoque" beauties about to be rescued by Chanel!

Coco Chanel in the 1930s

Audrey Tautou is Coco Chanel in Coco Before Chanel, 2009

Chanel made the Breton shirt famous among the French upper classes, but the striped nautical style had been around for a while in the trendy European coastal resort towns. At the turn of the century, stripes were everywhere: on towels, on beach tents, and even on the long, conservative-looking bathing suits.

Famous beach tents in Dinard (Brittany)

Royan beach (Jacques Henri Lartigue, 1924)

French Atlantic Coast, 1912

Going back even further, it can be argued that the first Marinières belonged to sailors, and old paintings show seamen wearing them as early as the 17th century. I did some research and found out that until 1858, only officers of the French Navy had to wear a specific uniform. Everyday clothes were the ordinary seaman's attire on board. That year, a decree defined the sailor's official uniform in minute detail (color, number and length of stripes, etc.)

Young French sailor in full uniform

There was no stopping the French sailor shirt, on its way to worldwide domination - or at the very least, to French icon status - once Coco Chanel declared it "à la mode" (trendy.)

In the 1950s, artists and intellectuals adopted la Marinière. Voilà Pablo Picasso, immortalized in his Breton shirt by Robert Doisneau (1952.)

Then came renowned French mime Marcel Marceau, instantly recognizable thanks to his make up and shirt.

One generation later, Jean-Paul Gaultier adopted the nautical stripe as his trademark. It seems Monsieur Gaultier has never met a personality or object he has not made over in his signature style. Take a look...

Dabbling in interior design...

Dressing European royalty...

Fighting HIV with French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

Venturing into car design... Smart Fortwo (Montreal, 2011)

It seems la Marinière (and the nautical style it inspired) are here to stay. Fans of the striped shirt do not have any problem getting their fix. At one point or another, most prêt-à-porter brands will add it to their collections. In France, several prominent companies offer quality products. My favorite brand is St James, but Armorluxand Petit Bateau are worthy competitors.

If you are getting tired of seeing the French sailor shirt, brace yourself. Nike has just landed a very lucrative deal, and became the main supplier of the French soccer team with a brand-new jersey... Take a look. Coco Chanel would be proud!

As for me, I will hang on to all of these...

... hoping to look more like this...

Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) in Paris
Sex and the City

... and hopefully staying away from that...

What about you? Vous aimez la Marinière? Do you like the French sailor shirt?

oh v ANOTHER ONE BEYOND WORDS...as soon as i saw the picture i sighed a very long heavy sigh and looked at the all pictures first.....just fabulous-j crew carried a few st james' items in the spring of this year but i purchased the few items i have from a store in brittany- i call them my belle isle - i tend to be a purist in such matters and only have the navy strip with white or creme as ALWAYS with gratitude for all the time and attention to detail-have a wonderful week and one question, will you be doing anymore translation posts for us life long learners of this confusing frustrating BUT EVER SO BEAUTIFUL language? i sure hope so my studies have frustrated me this fall to the point of almost throwing in the towel-alas a "comment" for another time-THANKS AS ALWAYS-g

One of my all time favorite looks, always fresh looking. But you're are right, we need to keep the look more similar to SJP, than the other options. Thank you for sharing the French term for the small liquor bottles! Happy Halloween.

Bonjour! I have just stumbled across your wonderful blog and become a follower. I spotted your photo of Royan (a place I have often visited during my year in Saintes and many times since) I'm a true francophile and will look forward to your posts. Merci.PS I shall add you to my list of favourite blogs on my blog!www.missbbobochic.blogspot.com

I knew Chanel had popularized the look, but I did not realize it went back even further than that! Excellent post. Just looking at all the celebrities wearing it throughout the years makes me realize what an important influence in fashion it really made. That's kind of incredible!

Oh, and that photo of Picasso in front of the window is a bit frightful, is it not? Lol.

I wandered over here from Owen's blog site, and its been a treat. And now I simply MUST have one of those sailor shirts! Especially the one Bardot was wearing! (I am sentimental this way)

I've only been to Seattle once, after an all night drive down through British Columbia. Mt. Rainier was a blushing pink ice cream sundae in the sunrise. And sea lions were basking on rocks in Coos Bay. These things, and the intoxicating smell of the fish markets are all I remember now.

Now I am living in France I need to add one of these to my wardrobe to prove I belong!! Thanks for another fascinating post about a french icon - I hope this series will run and run!! Greetings from the Riviera...

Mon Dieu! Look at all these comments, in just two short days! Merci to all of you for visiting. I can see that a majority of you already own a "Mariniere," whether you wear it or not. Some of you are now officially considering purchasing one - if my post talked you into it, I am tres honored ;-) - As I wrote in the story, I will hang on to mine, even if they tell you that horizontal stripes are not "a woman's best friend." -- Thanks again. Come back soon! Veronique

Oh dear, I am crestfallen to admit that I haven't even one such shirt in my wardrobe... despite the abundance of them on sale where we go every summer in Brittany, at the local market... May have to rectify that lacune sometime soon. I love your dog, because you can... but couldn't you find even just one cat in a sailor shirt ? For faire and balanced reporting ? :-) (Just kidding, our two cats were jealous of the dogs included here...)

Je suis en retard lire cette blog, je suis desolee! Tres bien toujours. I had such fun buying my "mariniere" shirt in St. Tropez with Marita. The sales woman was so friendly and spoke little English so we spoke in French avec hand motions, bien sur! I had my picture taken with her, I must show you. I will not forget this experience in St. Tropez. Years ago in Venice, Steve bought a "mariniere" shirt Italian style a la the gondoliers, not knowing the Italians apparently copied the French! Mon dieu! Fun stories you tell, continuez s'il vous plait!

I'm having such a good time scrolling down through all these fabulous posts, that I've not even taken time to comment on each of these. Know that I'm totally enjoying the visit this Thanksgiving today. Wanted to say, another of these classics returned home with me after my fall visit to Brittany. This year, pink and white with a soft t-scarf to match. I'll be keeping all the ones I've bought previously too. ;-) ~ Sarah

Yes! Yes! I love the Breton shirt or Mariniere! The little Yorkie in your photo is very chic. I just want to hug him! I too adore dogs. I do not currently own even one mariniere, and i must remedy the situation immediately. Monday, as tomorrow is Easter. I would love to look like Brigitte Bardot or Catherine Deneuve in one, but alas.. :D Yet another fabulous post Veronique. They are obviously your forte. Yours is one of my fav places to visit. Happy Easter and Springtime to you!

Bonjour! I love hearing from you, my readers. To quote a fellow blogger, my friend Owen, "Comments are the icing on blogcake... Comments are the UFO in the twilight sky bearing news from other planets... Comments are raspberry vinegar in salad dressing... Comments are the cool balm of after-sun moisturizing lotion... Comments are the moment the band comes back out onstage to play an encore... Comments are the gleam in the eye across the room in a smoky bar... Comments are the rainbow after the rainstorm..." Merci for your comments! French Girl in Seattle

About Me

... or more precisely, bienvenue chez Véronique, a French native who moved to Seattle in 1996. Le blog was originally created to keep in touch with my French students, relatives and friends... and then something happened and readers kept coming! I tell stories about la Belle France, and all things French; and when on the road, travel stories with a French twist. Come and join the fun, here on the blog, or on Facebook: Our community is growing fast! -- A bientôt.